April 26, 2013

Frederick says his 40 time, low reps don't show the kind of player he is -- tenacious with a high football IQ

The Cowboys’ first-round draft pick, center Travis Frederick, had
a very slow 40 time and low reps on the bench at the combine, and it may have
caused his stock to drop.

But he said neither says anything about his playing ability.

“I think the film really shows how I play,” he said Thursday
night in a conference call with reporters. “I’m a tough player who run blocks
really well and hopefully will be able to pass block as well. I think that I do
a good job of anchoring in against a bull rush or even somebody that’s a zero
nose technique.”

Frederick said Wisconsin does not stress high rep numbers
in its lifting.

“Wisconsin
is not known for doing well at the reps because we’ve always been trained to do
low reps, high intensity,” he said. “So we do single reps or double reps, and I
do very well on those areas. So I don’t think the 21 reps on the bench was
truly indicative of my strength.”

He also said he could have run another 40 at his pro day and
might have improved it a little.

Frederick
confessed that he thought he would be a second-round pick, but he knew the
Cowboys needed help at guard and center and that they had talked to him a lot.

“I do feel very comfortable at both positions, so I think that’s
what helps me out, is being able to play both positions,” he said. “I’m sure
that they have some sort of idea for me, but I’m looking forward to getting
down there and just seeing where I fit in.”

He said the Cowboys liked his toughness and intelligence.

“I’m a tough player, a tenacious player. I’m also a player who
plays with a high football IQ,” he said. “I think that I’m able to pick up on
the offense very quickly, and I’m going to be able to make adjustments at the
line and be able to help direct everybody, and I think that those are things
that they really liked.”

He said he is proud of Wisconsin’s
tradition of turning out offensive linemen.

“That tradition is one of the reasons why I chose to go to Wisconsin, just knowing
that such great offensive linemen have come out of there and would probably or
hopefully give me the opportunity if I worked as hard as I could, to be in the
situation that I’m in today,” he said. “I’m excited to join that long line.”